Mr. McCallum | Napan Elementary

2025 Grade 2 & Grade 3

Posted: January 10, 2025

Friday January 10, 2025

Daily Update:
We started our day in a typical fashion. Our spelling word was “invisible,” and our Show, Not Tell prompt was “He was silly on the mat.” We continued with the Heggerty listening activities and worked on building our stamina for Read to Self. As a class, we completed part two of our UFLI lesson on VCe words (vowel-consonant-“e”), which makes the vowel sound long. We had a Work on Writing prompt—“This weekend I…”—but we ran out of time before finishing.

After Recess:
The Grade 1 & 2 students took a quick quiz on addition facts (digits 0-9), reviewed sum and difference, and used the SmartBoard to practice. They finished off the lesson working at their tables. The Grade 3s worked on writing numbers in both standard form and place value form. They also did some mental math practice and completed a 50 Club test on facts.

After an Indoor Lunch:
We were slow to leave Lego Club, but eventually made our way upstairs to talk a little about how different animals brave and survive the cold. We found out some interesting things about tree frogs, how turtle breathe and this thing called a tardigrade!

PE:
Those who arrived first shouted “YES! FLOOR HOCKEY!” as they entered the gym. It was a Fun Friday class—Mr. Ross was running just as hard as the rest of us. Thankfully, no one here is at all competitive!

End of Day:
After gym, we tackled our Book of Gratitude with the prompt, “The best part of my day was when…” Anyone who finished all their morning work got a bit of free choice time. The others had to wrap up loose ends—after all, you have to pay to play!

Picture of the Day:
Floor hockey on a Friday is always a big hit, and it’s one of the class favorites in PE!

Posted: January 9, 2025

Thursday January 9, 2025

Daily Update:
We kicked off the day in our usual way. Our spelling word was “precipitation,” and the Show Not Tell prompt was “She was good at math.” We completed our Heggerty Listening games, followed by the Work on Writing prompt: “One of my favorite things about school is…” In our UFLI lesson, we focused on the VCe pattern (Vowel-Consonant-“e”), seeing how “cub” changes to “cube” when the vowel sound is lengthened by the silent “e.” We wrapped up by sharing our writing on the blue mat, then switched out our books in the book box and did a quick Read to Self.

After Recess:
Grade 1 & 2 students practiced place value, showing numbers in different ways. They used their number charts for skip-counting by 2s from a random starting point, stopping at or before a specified number. We also had a quick addition quiz using digits 0-9. Meanwhile, Grade 3 worked on mental math strategies, identifying errors in skip-counting sequences, and determining coin values with skip-counting skills.

After an Indoor Lunch:
The classroom needed a bit of a tidy-up. I realized we hadn’t cleaned desks before the Christmas break, and it was definitely overdue. We only found one questionable bag of cucumbers—thank goodness zip-lock bags seal in everything! After our desk cleanup, we appointed a Desk Inspector and Hallway Inspector. Our tough inspector took his job seriously, so it took longer than some had hoped. Eventually, we all got clearance to head to the gym.

PE:
Our PE session focused on positioning for Newcomb Ball. We must be improving, because I heard a rumor there was a scout on the stage, taking notes on his iPad! I wonder which team he’s from?

End of Day:
I made an unusual deal with the students: if they were willing to film the morning announcements, we could skip our Book of Gratitude writing and filling out our Home to School Books. They jumped at the chance! We finished shooting the announcements, practiced our flip and freeze, and wrapped up the day. Good luck to our basketball team playing at Miramichi Rural—GO CUBS!

Picture of the Day:
Students tidying their desks, moments before everything seemed to explode. YES, it got much worse!

Posted: January 8, 2025

Wednesday January 8, 2025

Daily Update:
I started the day feeling like a celebrity when I was asked for my autograph, I got to sign someone’s cast! Our spelling word was “whispering,” and the Show Not Tell prompt was “He was a good writer.” We worked through our Heggerty Listening games, then tackled our Work on Writing. Todays prompt: “I am good at…” Some people take pride in getting their siblings in trouble. I won't judge since I do too. In UFLI, we practiced word chains and had some Read to Self time. After that, we shared our writing pieces with each other.

After Recess:
The Grade 1 & 2 students continued reviewing how to represent numbers. We used iPads for basic addition (digits 0-9) and did some place value coloring on a hundreds chart. Meanwhile, the Grade 3s practiced their multiplication facts, wrote out number words for multiples of 10 and 100, and wrapped up with a session on DreamBox.

After Lunch:
We met with Mr. Whalen! We did some ukele practice and are are lining up something special for the next few weeks. It will definately take some work on our end, but it will be fun!

PE:
We focused on positions in a game of Newcomb Ball and ended with a round of Museum. I still haven’t quite grasped the rules, but everyone seemed to love it!

End of Day:
After PE, we followed our usual routine. Our Book of Gratitude prompt was “A friend who helped me today was…” We got our Home to School books signed, then had some extra iPad time—practicing how to freeze and flip to the carpet before the clock ran out!

Picture of the Day:
Look closely and you’ll spot some familiar faces enjoying Drawing Club at lunch.

Posted: January 7, 2025

Tuesday January 7, 2025

Daily Update:
We enjoyed our first official day back yesterday, filled with excitement. Today was all about easing into our regular schedule. After coming in from outside, we jumped right into our routine. Our spelling word was “resolution,” and our Show Not Tell was “He loves school.” We did our Heggerty listening exercises (if you’ve never seen them, you can check them out here). Our reading maze required us to choose the (learn / correct / school) word to complete the sentence. During our Work on Writing, we used the prompt “One fun thing I did over the break was…” and focused on extending our writing stamina for the full 15 minutes. Then we had Read to Self time and shared our writing pieces before taking a quick snack break.

After Recess:
The Grade 1 & 2 students reviewed how to represent numbers. We stumbled a bit representing our “Number of the Day” (74) with nickels and dimes. We also practiced addition on the iPads using digits 0-9 and did some color-by-sum pages for sums up to 10. Meanwhile, the Grade 3s worked on showing given numbers with manipulatives and drawing them pictorially.

After Lunch:
We met with Mrs. Robichaud and read a book called The Wish Tree. We talked about New Year’s resolutions being something that we want to improve about ourselves. Then we discussed what wishes we might have for others—aiming to spread kindness, friendship, and a sense of belonging.

PE:
We warmed up by playing “PIG” for throwing and catching a Newcomb ball, then moved on to a Newcomb ball game using the net. It was a great way to practice our aim and teamwork!

End of Day:
We wrapped up the day with our usual routine, working on our Book of Gratitude. Today’s prompt was “Today I was thankful for…” After filling in our Home to School books, we squeezed in eight full minutes of free choice before dismissal.

Picture of the Day:
Everyone stayed calm, focused, and quiet while working—better snap a photo quickly before this rare moment passes!

Posted: January 6, 2025

Monday January 6, 2025

Daily Update:
Welcome back to Napan for 2025! We started the day with plenty of excitement and a brand-new student joining our class. We gave him a quick tour of the school, stopping by the other two classes and pausing in the gym to snap a new 2025 class photo—gotta keep our teacher page banner fresh! The energy in the building was sky-high as we shared holiday stories about Christmas and New Year’s. Our writing prompt was “For Christmas I…” and we took turns reading our pieces. Then, just as we were about to file our writing in our duotangs, Mrs. Craig invited us to ring in the new year Napan-style with a countdown, toast, crackers, and music. What a fun surprise! Thank you, Mrs. Craig.

After Recess:
The Grade 1s and 2s dove right into their 73rd day of school, practicing addition facts and learning to play matching and “war” games using ten-frame cards. Meanwhile, the Grade 3s focused on writing expressions for numbers up to 500 and reviewed multiplication facts.

After Lunch:
We discussed New Year’s traditions and resolutions—a resolution being a goal that can bring positive changes to our lives. We also talked about different family customs, like staying up late or setting off fireworks, which seem to be very popular around here!

PE:
We headed to the gym for a lively game of soccer baseball, shaking off any post-holiday rust!

End of Day:
Back in the classroom, we talked about some of our own resolutions. For our Book of Gratitude prompt, we could choose between “Something new today was…” or “My resolution for 2025 will be…” We wrapped up by signing our Home to School books and managed to earn a full eight minutes of free choice before the bell rang.

Picture of the Day:
We were all invited to a special New Year’s celebration—such a cheerful way to start 2025!

2025 Napan 2-3 January

Posted: January 6, 2025

Posted: December 19, 2024

Thursday December 19, 2024

Daily Update:
With just two days left until the holiday break, our classroom’s excitement levels were sky-high this morning. After a special morning announcement for Mr. Ross, we tried to follow our usual routine. Today’s spelling word was “cancellation,” and our Show Not Tell prompt was “She loves to skate.” We began our Heggerty listening exercises, but only made it halfway through before it was time to head to the LBA for skating. A big thank you to all the adults who helped tie skates and secure helmets—your assistance made the outing possible!

After Skating:
Still dressed warmly, we swapped out our skates for boots, grabbed a quick snack, and took a brisk walk around the playground. Back inside, we worked on parts of our Christmas packet, including a math puzzle and a crossword, while playing some holiday tunes. Actually, we didn’t just listen—we belted out “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” more than once! Just before lunch, Miss Brown visited with some wonderful news: we’re getting a new student in January! Arsen is a Grade 3 boy from Ukraine who will join us in the new year. We can’t wait to welcome him!

After Lunch:
Returning from lunchtime floor hockey outside, we settled into a calm activity: working on our big mural while watching *The Grinch* and creating welcome signs for our future classmate. The mural is really coming together, and we’re excited to greet Arsen with a warm, colorful display.

PE:
Mr. Ross mentioned the students had so much energy they were climbing the walls—literally! The Napan Rock Wall got a workout today. I tried my hand at it, but my bouldering days seem to be behind me now! We also got a few minutes of basketball.

End of Day:
After gym, we decided to skip the Book of Gratitude and focus on enjoying the moment. We signed our Home to School books, enjoyed some free choice time, continued working on our mural, watched more of the Christmas movie, and—shockingly—only sang “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” once this afternoon! Remember, tomorrow is Pajama Day and our last day of school for 2024.

Picture of the Day:
A snapshot of our relaxed afternoon—coloring, watching a holiday movie, and savoring the festive mood!

Posted: December 18, 2024

Wednesday December 18, 2024

Daily Update:
It’s Christmas concert day! Many students arrived off the bus already dressed in their finest outfits. We attempted a somewhat normal routine. Today’s spelling word was “antlers,” and our Show Not Tell prompt was “It was concert day.” After Heggerty listening games and our reading maze, we jumped into a literacy rotation focusing on Read to Self. (We might need to give Read to Self a bit more love in the new year!) Our writing prompt was “If I could have one thing for Christmas…” and we continued working on our Christmas puzzle packets.

After an Indoor Recess:
We spent some time on a code breaker page and a color-by-sight-word activity from our Christmas packet. We also watched a Pink Panther Christmas short, which captured everyone’s attention! Lunch came early today—no one wants to sing on an empty stomach, after all.

After Lunch:
We carried our chairs to the gym and prepared for the big show. Our student MCs did a fantastic job, and each class performed beautifully. If you missed it, we rocked the ukuleles during “Deck the Halls” and stayed focused throughout the performance. Thanks to everyone who joined us! After the concert, families dropped by the classrooms for photos, and then we headed outside for some fresh air.

PE:
Mr. Ross was away this afternoon, so Mr. Trevors stepped in. He played a few Christmas Just Dance videos—if this class can do anything well, it’s dance! We had a blast grooving along to the music.

End of Day:
We returned to the classroom for our Book of Gratitude. Today’s prompt: “A challenge I overcame today was…” After a quick reflection, we packed our Home to School books. Some of us enjoyed a bit of free choice time, too. Don’t forget: tomorrow’s dress-up theme is “Holiday Socks / Santa Hats / Reindeer Antlers,” and we’ll be skating at 9:00 AM at the LBA.

Picture of the Day:
Before I had a chance to spill coffee on myself or ruin my shirt, I captured a photo dressed up with these awesome students!

Posted: December 17, 2024

Tuesday December 17, 2024

Daily Update:
We began our morning as usual, settling into our routine. Today’s spelling word was “elephant,” and our Show Not Tell prompt was “It was Christmas morning.” After completing our Heggerty listening games and a reading maze, we dove into literacy rotations—this time, a slightly mixed-up schedule. Our writing prompt was “If I was Santa Claus for a day, I…” We also tackled a few Christmas-themed puzzle packets.

After an Indoor Recess:
The whole school gathered in the gym for our final full dress rehearsal before tomorrow’s big show at 12:00. We’ve worked so hard and we’re excited to show everyone what we’ve prepared!

After an Indoor Lunch:
We were joined by Miss Hare this afternoon. With her help, we colored our Christmas mural, continued working on our puzzle packets, and added a few more drawings to our festive collection. She’s so kind—I hope everyone showed their best manners!

PE:
We used half the gym for PE since the other half is set up for our concert. I spotted plungers and a bowling-like game that looked pretty intense. Not sure which team came out on top, but it sure was fun!

End of Day:
Back in the classroom, we turned to our Book of Gratitude. Today’s prompt was “Today, I am grateful for…” We also slipped our class picture into the Home to School books before packing up. Some students enjoyed a bit of free choice time, too. Don’t forget: tomorrow is “dress your best” for the Christmas concert!

Picture of the Day:
Captured just before the purple ball slipped through and took out the red plunger!

Posted: December 16, 2024

Monday December 16, 2024

Daily Update:
We began the day with our usual routine. Our spelling word was “Christmas,” and our Show Not Tell prompt was “It was our Christmas dinner.” After completing our Heggerty listening games and working through our reading maze, we jumped into literacy rotations. Our writing prompt today was “Over the weekend I…” After sharing our writing, we enjoyed a quick snack and then headed outside for recess.

After Recess:
The entire school headed to the gym for yet another Christmas concert rehearsal. With one more short practice tomorrow, we should be all set for Wednesday’s performance!

Lunch:
When we arrived at the gym for lunch, each seat had a wrapped gift with a student’s name on it. Miss Brown told us that while we were practicing, a box appeared at the door. We unwrapped the packages to discover brand-new Napan Cubs T-shirts for everyone! After the excitement, we sat down to a delicious Home & School Christmas meal featuring ham, turkey, potatoes, carrots, peas, dressing, cranberry sauce, and gravy—and even a little dessert! We managed to squeeze in some outdoor play afterward as well.

PE:
Because lunch and outdoor time ran slightly longer, we combined classes with K-1 for PE. We used half the gym to play a few games like Bulldozers and Builders, and a version of Four Corners (though they found a way to make it Five Corners!). Lots of running, red faces, and sweat—exactly what makes a great PE session!

End of Day:
After gym, instead of our Book of Gratitude, we tackled some Christmas fun packets. This class loves a good word search! We packed our new shirts and our Home to School books into our bags, and even enjoyed a bit of free choice time. Don’t forget: tomorrow is “Wear your favorite holiday sweater or holiday colors” day. See you in the morning!

Picture of the Day:
Christmas came early with a brand-new Napan Cubs T-shirt for every student!